Man Utd should move heaven and earth to get Anderson
Nothing was ever going to overshadow Casemiro's Old Trafford farewell – but the performance of Elliot Anderson in Manchester United's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday showed Michael Carrick exactly why he should be the man to replace the Brazilian.
United have clinched third spot and Champions League qualification. Carrick's appointment is imminent. Naturally, attentions are turning to the transfer window. Midfielders are the priority. More than one is required but Anderson would be the dream signing.
The England international is perhaps the closest you can get to a sure thing in the market since Arsenal paid £105m to sign Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023. Those two are set to play a central role for England boss Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup this summer.
Anderson's Old Trafford performance might change some minds about where he is best deployed in that England midfield. He was everywhere, in fairness. But his most crucial contributions were in the attacking third of the pitch, assisting both of Forest's goals.
For each goal, he found a pocket of space on the right and delivered a pinpoint cross reminiscent of those Steven Gerrard produced so often when playing for Liverpool. Anderson's delivery for the first goal was close to perfection. Morato simply could not miss.
This is a side of his game that we do not see enough. Anderson doubled his Premier League assists tally for the season in a single afternoon. He was, of course, excellent in all the areas he usually excels in as well. The 23-year-old ran the show for Forest.
Anderson won more duels than anyone on the pitch (nine), won possession more than anyone else on the pitch (eight) and had more final third entries than anyone else on the pitch (14). He was simply head and shoulders above. That would have been hard to miss for United's hierarchy.
Manchester City lead the race for Anderson's signature as it stands. They also tried to sign Rice before he joined Arsenal. United should move heaven and earth to bring Anderson to Old Trafford if they have ambitions of challenging again one day.
Zinny Boswell
Wharton is more than a capable alternative to Anderson
"One more year, one more year, Adam Wharton," sang the Crystal Palace fans. But the England midfielder was putting in a display that will surely see him sought-after this summer.
Against Brentford, Wharton was doing everything right. His forward-thinking passing ability was creating chance after chance in a dominant half for the Eagles. But his off-the-ball work was noticed too, topping Palace players for ball recoveries in a breathless 100 minutes in west London.
"It is incredible how he reads the game and how far he is ahead of it," said Oliver Glasner after the game. "This is his biggest strength."
A lot has been made about Elliot Anderson ahead of a crucial summer - for England's World Cup and in the transfer market. But Wharton has shown he can easily be the star of the summer.
As he did at Brentford, if he can add goals to his game he will be the perfect all-round midfielder. Whoever doesn't get Anderson knows there is a more than capable alternative in Wharton this summer.
Sam Blitz
Do Brentford actually need Europe right now?
Brentford's European fate is now out of their hands. It may not be the worst thing in the world for the Bees if they don't get it.
Should Keith Andrews' side qualify, it would be an outstanding achievement for a club tipped for the drop in August. It would probably get Andrews Manager of the Season.
But the one thing Europe would bring is a hectic schedule. And Brentford would need a big squad for that. They don't have one yet.
The Bees have a good squad but it looked tired at certain points in the draw with Crystal Palacee. Andrews even revealed he has not been able to start Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara together in the last two games to manage their minutes.
That's because not enough fringe players have been trusted in big moments. Striker Kaye Furo was once again unused and Reiss Nelson has barely been called upon all season.
If Brentford get Europe, it would probably lead them to a similar situation to Palace, where they would need to run risk of relegation to fund a European campaign. On current viewing, the Bees may not succeed at balancing both competitions.
Sam Blitz
Can Fulham expect to keep Silva without hopes of Europe?
When Marco Silva comes to a final decision on his Fulham future, he might well revisit a 1-1 draw with Wolves as a result with major repercussions. This was the game where European hopes faded into obscurity. And perhaps with it, Fulham's chances of retaining highly-rated Silva as manager.
The Portuguese boss has been hesitant to commit himself to Craven Cottage after five years in charge. He's been linked with roles in his homeland, most recently Benfica. And Benfica consistently play in Europe. After coming close in two consecutive campaigns under Silva, the Londoners have not been able to deliver on that dream.
Has the 48-year-old's ambitions outgrown a club of Fulham's size? Is he likely to be given the resource and budget to make a play for the top eight next year? Does he even have the appetite to try again? Perhaps those are all questions being discussed behind closed doors. Now felt like the most realistic opportunity, though.
In terms of points, Fulham are closer to Liverpool in fifth than they are to those clubs at the bottom, but they are a way off the kind of consistency Bournemouth and Brighton have been producing. They've lost 16 times this season and that's too many.
Silva told reporters at Molineux he wants assurances about "how I want the club to move on" before deciding whether the project suits him, adding "it's one of the most important summers in this football club." The decision makers at Fulham clearly need to convince him to stay rather than the other way around.
Laura Hunter
Contrasting fortunes in Euro race for Everton and Sunderland
A brilliant first season back in the top flight for Sunderland may yet finish on an historic high. They were tipped to go straight back down to the Championship. Instead, they will face Chelsea on the final day with a chance to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1973 thanks to their come-from behind win over Everton.
The Black Cats will need other results to go their way too, but regardless of how it finishes, this has been a season to cherish for their fans, who saluted the efforts of their players at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as those in blue endured boos.
Everton's form has collapsed at the worst possible moment. Their 3-0 victory over Chelsea in March made it three wins from four at the time but it's none in six now. Most worrying for David Moyes is their glaring vulnerability defensively.
Everton have now conceded at least two goals in six straight games. Sunderland only had three shots on target on Sunday but it summed up the home side's current plight that all three of them beat Jordan Pickford and found the back of the net.
The Toffees are not mathematically out of the race for Europe but, three points back, with a negative goal difference, it will take something close to a miracle. Few saw it coming at the start of the season, but Sunderland's prospects are far brighter.
Nick Wright
Watkins now the clear frontrunner in England striker battle
In scoring twice against Liverpool, Ollie Watkins did not just become the highest scoring English player in the Premier League this season. He also overtook his rivals in the race to become Harry Kane's back-up in the England World Cup squad.
Watkins reached 14 Premier League goals for the season but is probably the most in-form forward in the top-flight right now. He has 11 goals and three assists in his last 14 Villa matches, a fine run of form since being snubbed for England in the March international break.
The performance was even better. He ran rings around Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate all night - those two defenders are also heading to the World Cup this summer. "You could feel in the first few minutes of this game," said Jamie Carragher. "He was right up for it, and fancied his chances against Liverpool's centre-backs."
Now, Thomas Tuchel simply cannot ignore Watkins any longer. The Villa man is getting into stride just at the right time.
It's not just form going Watkins' way. His relationship with Morgan Rogers - shown once again in the pair combining for Villa's second goal - could be crucial over in North America this summer.
Should Watkins fire Villa to Europa League glory on Wednesday, it will only rubberstamp his spot on the World Cup plane. Only injury can stop Watkins now…
Sam Blitz
Sorry stats tell story of Slot's monumental task
It is remarkable that Liverpool will go into the Premier League's final day in fifth. Arne Slot is extremely fortunate that others like Chelsea have not performed to the level expected of them this season otherwise he would find himself in a much more precarious position.
Friday night's 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa was Liverpool's 12th in the Premier League this season. That is unacceptable for a team defending the title. A title they won at a canter. If you take into account all competitions, Liverpool have lost 19 times this season.
You would not be surprised if they made it 20 against Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season. That would be the joint most defeats Liverpool have recorded in a single season since being promoted back to the top-flight in 1962. Astonishing.
Liverpool are a team that struggle to score goals and cannot seem to keep them out, either. They have conceded more than a half century of goals (52) in the league, which is a record for the club in a 38-game season, and it could well have been more on Friday.
Set-piece vulnerability has been a problem all season long and it has gone unsolved. Liverpool have conceded more goals from dead ball scenarios excluding penalties than any other team in the Premier League this season (20). Add it to the to-do list for next season.
Slot is not solely to blame for the sorry turn Liverpool's season has taken, but he will take the brunt of the criticism. These stats - and there are more - demonstrate the size of the task that lies ahead of the Dutchman if he is to turn it around at Anfield.
Zinny Boswell
Calvert-Lewin strengthens England hopes with late winner
That's now 14 Premier League goals this season for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and today probably won't have hurt his chances ahead of Thomas Tuchel naming his England World Cup squad next Friday.
Tuchel already brought Calvert-Lewin back into the England setup earlier this year after his form at Leeds, with the striker earning his first call-up since 2021. He came off the bench against Uruguay and clearly remains in Tuchel's thinking.
What helps Calvert-Lewin is that he offers something a bit different to England's other attacking options. He gives you a real presence up front, is strong in the air and can occupy defenders physically, something that could be useful when Kane gets tired.
And while Leeds barely created anything all afternoon, he still found a way to make the difference. He stayed switched on, reacted quickest to the mistake and kept his composure in a huge moment.
Those are the type of moments international managers notice.
Sam Cohen
Will Brighton come to rue missed chance at Leeds?
Come 6pm next Sunday, Brighton might look back on Sunday's defeat at Leeds as the moment they lost out on Europe.
Winning at Elland Road would have secured them seventh place and, after Manchester City's FA Cup win, the top eight will likely be enough for Europe.
So all is not lost - far from it. But the race could not be tighter and Brighton would have wanted to go into a final-day match at home to Man Utd with something in the bag.
What will be more of a concern is a lack of cutting edge. Brighton had 19 shots at Elland Road with eight on target, but came away with no goals and no points.
Then there was a worrying error from Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen that Dominic Calvert-Lewin capitalised as the Seagulls were perhaps a bit too eager to build out again from the back.
Fabian Hurzeler called Leeds' win 'lucky' and there may be some truth to that, but I'd categorise it as pouncing on an error. Brighton were the creators of their own downfall.
It's now an all or nothing game on Sunday. The Seagulls have the edge with their league position and it is in their hands. They will need the best week possible of preparation to return to the European stage next season.
Charlotte Marsh
Colito
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one season wonder this one